Kanagawa Map Guide: Yokosuka, Yokohama & Key Areas Explained

Kanagawa Prefecture: Tokyo's Southern Neighbor

Kanagawa Prefecture (神奈川県) sits immediately south of Tokyo and packs four of Japan's most popular travel destinations into a surprisingly compact area: Yokohama, Kamakura, Yokosuka, and Hakone. According to the Kanagawa Prefectural Government, the prefecture covers 2,415 square kilometers — one of Japan's smallest by area — yet it contains Japan's second-largest city, an ancient capital, a major naval port, and one of the country's most famous onsen regions.

For travelers based in Tokyo, Kanagawa is the most accessible day-trip prefecture in Japan. Every major destination is under 90 minutes by train, and several can be combined in a single day. Yet many first-time visitors plan these as completely separate trips without realizing they sit along the same train lines in the same prefecture.

This guide maps out where each area sits relative to Tokyo and each other, with the travel times and train lines you need to plan efficiently.

Quick Map: Major Areas and Travel Times from Tokyo

Destination	Direction from Tokyo	Train Time	Fare (one way)	Train Line
Yokohama	South	25 min	¥480 (~$3)	JR Tokaido Line from Tokyo Sta.
Kamakura	South-southwest	50 min	¥920 (~$6)	JR Yokosuka Line from Tokyo Sta.
Yokosuka	South	60 min	¥920 (~$6)	JR Yokosuka Line from Tokyo Sta.
Hakone	Southwest	85 min	¥2,470 (~$16)	Odakyu Romancecar from Shinjuku

The key geographic insight: Yokohama, Kamakura, and Yokosuka all sit along the same JR Yokosuka Line running south from Tokyo Station. Hakone is the outlier — it sits to the southwest, accessed from Shinjuku Station via a completely different rail line. This means you can easily combine Yokohama with Kamakura or Yokosuka, but adding Hakone to the same day requires backtracking through Tokyo.

Kanagawa's eastern half is urban and coastal — the Tokyo-Yokohama-Yokosuka corridor runs along Tokyo Bay. According to the Kanagawa prefectural geography page, the western half transitions to mountainous onsen country, where Hakone sits among volcanic hot springs.

Yokohama: Japan's Second-Largest City, 25 Minutes South

Yokohama is so close to Tokyo that many travelers assume it is part of the capital. It is not — Yokohama is a separate city of 3.7 million people in Kanagawa Prefecture, and it has its own distinct character. The Chinatown is Japan's largest, Minato Mirai's waterfront skyscrapers define the skyline, and the Ramen Museum offers a food experience you will not find in Tokyo.

At just 25 minutes from Tokyo Station by JR Tokaido Line (¥480 / ~$3), Yokohama is the easiest day trip in Kanagawa. Yokohama Station is served by multiple lines — JR, Keikyu, Tokyu Toyoko, Sotetsu, and the Minato Mirai Line — making it one of Japan's best-connected stations.

For a detailed breakdown of how Yokohama relates to Tokyo geographically and practically, see our Yokohama location guide.

Kamakura: Ancient Capital with Great Buddha and Temples

Kamakura sits on the Pacific coast southwest of Yokohama and served as Japan's political capital from 1185 to 1333. The Great Buddha (Daibutsu / 大仏) at Kotoku-in Temple is the city's most famous sight — a 13m (43ft) bronze statue that has sat outdoors since a tsunami destroyed its wooden hall in 1498.

From Tokyo Station, the JR Yokosuka Line reaches Kamakura Station in about 50 minutes (¥920 / ~$6) with no transfers. From Yokohama, it is just 30 minutes further on the same line. This makes Yokohama + Kamakura one of the most logical Kanagawa day-trip combinations — you pass through Yokohama on the way.

Kamakura is compact enough to explore on foot or by the Enoden (江ノ電), a charming seaside tram that runs from Kamakura Station along the coast to Enoshima. The town gets crowded on weekends, especially during spring (cherry blossoms) and autumn (temple foliage). Weekday visits are significantly more pleasant.

Yokosuka: Naval Port and Sarushima Island

Yokosuka sits at the southern tip of the JR Yokosuka Line, about 60 minutes from Tokyo Station (¥920 / ~$6). The city is best known for its naval heritage — both the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and a US Navy base are located here, giving the city a distinctive international atmosphere.

For travelers, the main draws are Sarushima Island (猿島) — the only natural island in Tokyo Bay, accessible by a 10-minute ferry from Mikasa Pier — and Mikasa Park, where the historic battleship Mikasa is preserved as a museum. The Dobuita Street shopping area near the base offers an eclectic mix of American surplus stores, jazz bars, and the famous Yokosuka Navy Burger.

From Shinagawa Station, the Keikyu Main Line (京急本線) reaches Yokosuka-Chuo Station in about 50 minutes (¥920 / ~$6) and is often faster than the JR route. Note that the Keikyu Line is not covered by the Japan Rail Pass.

Hakone: Hot Springs and Mt. Fuji Views

Hakone is Kanagawa's western mountain destination — a volcanic onsen region about 85 minutes from Shinjuku by Odakyu Romancecar (¥2,470 / ~$16). Unlike the coastal cities to the east, Hakone is all mountains, forests, and sulfurous hot springs.

The Hakone navigation site recommends the Hakone Free Pass (箱根フリーパス) for visitors — a 2-day transport pass from Odakyu that covers the Romancecar discount, plus all local transport including buses, the Hakone Tozan Railway, cable car, ropeway, and the pirate ship cruise on Lake Ashi. The pass essentially creates a loop route through the major sights.

Hakone's main appeal is the combination of onsen bathing and Mt. Fuji views — on clear days, the view from Owakudani or Lake Ashi with Fuji reflected in the water is one of Japan's iconic scenes. Cloud cover is unpredictable, so check the visibility forecast before making the trip primarily for Fuji views.

By car from Tokyo, Hakone is about 90 minutes via the Tomei Expressway. Note that winter road conditions can require chains or studded tires in the mountain sections.

Getting Around Kanagawa: Key Train Lines

JR Yokosuka Line: Tokyo to Yokohama, Kamakura, and Yokosuka

The JR Yokosuka Line (横須賀線) is the single most useful train for Kanagawa travel. It runs from Tokyo Station south through Yokohama, Kamakura, and terminates at Yokosuka — hitting three of the four major destinations without a transfer. The line is covered by the Japan Rail Pass.

Important: take the rapid or express service, not the local train. Local trains add 20-30 minutes to the journey by stopping at every station. Check the departure board at Tokyo Station for trains marked 快速 (kaisoku / rapid).

Keikyu Line: Faster Route from Shinagawa

The Keikyu Main Line (京急本線) runs from Shinagawa Station to Yokohama and Yokosuka, often faster than JR for these routes. If you are staying near Shinagawa, Keikyu is the better choice for reaching Yokohama (20 minutes) or Yokosuka-Chuo (50 minutes).

The trade-off: Keikyu is a private railway, not covered by the Japan Rail Pass. If you have a JR Pass, stick with the JR Yokosuka Line. If you are paying per trip, compare times — Keikyu's express services are frequently faster.

Odakyu Romancecar: Shinjuku to Hakone

The Odakyu Romancecar (小田急ロマンスカー) is the standard route to Hakone. The limited express runs from Shinjuku Station to Hakone-Yumoto Station in about 85 minutes. Seats are reserved — book online or at Odakyu counters. The Hakone Free Pass includes a discount on the Romancecar supplement.

Hakone is the only major Kanagawa destination not accessible from Tokyo Station's JR lines. Plan Hakone trips from Shinjuku, not from Tokyo Station.